Using a VPN in China is not always easy – here’s what you need to know
What's the best China VPN that actually works (and why)?
China's "Great Firewall" is tricky to get passed. Not only does it block tons of content, the authorities actively try to stop (and even persecute) VPN use.
So, in this guide, we're going to walk you through how to use a VPN in China, including what features to look for. And we'll even recommend a few China VPNs with proven track records.
We cover a lot of ground so if you're in a hurry you can jump down to the section VPNs That Currently Work in China.
Best China VPN
How to Choose a VPN for China
Make sure the VPN expressly caters to mainland Chinese users. If you don’t see claims that make this clear, keep looking. Different VPNs use their own terminology for technologies that can bypass the GFoC – stealth, cloak, obfuscation, etc – but the bottom line is that they will thwart the deep packet inspection utilized by the Chinese authorities.
Top Tip – Although this post is oriented to China, the factors below and recommendations above are also relevant for users in places like Iran, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Pakistan, Oman and countries in Central Asia.
Some VPN providers may offer a tailored “China-configured” app, but most will simply allow you to choose settings in their normal app. When choosing settings for VPN use inside China, maximize your protection:
- use the protocols SSTP (which “blends in” with https traffic to avoid detection) or OpenVPN (safe but rarely works)
- use at least 256-bit levels of encryption (don’t use 128-bit or lower)
Be Wary of Free China VPNs
Be wary of anyone touting a free China VPN.
We all love free, but it takes a significant investment of effort and technology to overcome China’s blocking apparatus. As a result, be distrustful and skeptical of free services.
Take it as a good sign that you to have to pay for a fully functional China VPN, as these providers have an incentive to keep their tools working and your online activities safe. VPN use is exploding in popularity in China and the VPN providers that “get it right” stand to gain considerably.
- see our post ‘Why Using a Free VPN is a Bad Idea’
Plus, it was recently reported by ZDnet that, “roughly 60 percent of the top free mobile VPN apps returned by Google Play Store and Apple Play Store searches are from developers based in China or with Chinese ownership, raising serious concerns about data privacy.”
In other words, better to stick with the premium VPN services above which are developed and maintained outside the influence of Chinese authorities.
Server Locations of the China VPN
Look for a VPN with servers located in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Southeast Asia, and West Coast USA (San Francisco/California) or West Coast Canada (Vancouver/British Columbia). This is important for having decent speeds and a good user experience when hooked up to the VPN.
Sign-Up & Payment
Ideally, the VPN’s website won’t be blocked in China. This means you can access the VPN’s website directly to sign up, pay and download the necessary VPN software.
Unfortunately, almost all VPN websites are blocked in China – for the very latest on which VPNs are blocked visit https://en.greatfire.org/vpns-proxies (Chinese version).
If the VPN you are interested in is blocked in China, try using Tor Browser or sign up the next time you are travelling abroad. If Tor browser is blocked from your location in China, try it with the obfsproxy plugin (now included and part of the official Tor Browser packages). You could also try the Japan-based, volunteer VPN network VPN gate (Chinese version). Other times, it may even be possible to contact the VPN provider by email to complete some of the signup steps.
Also, choose a VPN with a money-back guarantee. No matter how much research you do, ultimately you simply have to select one and try it out. If, for whatever reason the VPN does not work for you (see ‘warning’ below), ask for a refund: no harm done.
Top Tip – Because things can change quickly in the China VPN landscape, you may not want to sign up for a longer-term contract. That being said, you can get some excellent discounts when you sign up for longer subscriptions, and VPNs have many uses.
Advanced VPN Features
Although not essential, consider as a bonus when a VPN supports features such as a VPN kill switch and DNS leak protection.
Note: All of the VPNs recommended in this article, including ExpressVPN and VyprVPN, have these features.
Top Tip – On that note, when trying out the VPN, don’t immediately access controversial websites! Go slow and progressively visit sites that are increasingly likely to be censored.
If (but only if) your activities warrant a heightened level of protection (for example, a dissident), consider running your VPN over Tor or running one VPN over top of another (“double VPN”).
- see our post ‘How to Make a VPN Even More Secure’
VPNs that Currently Work in China 2025
Though we encourage you to do your own research, the VPN world can be confusing for newbies, especially in China.
So, here's a list of a few VPNs that have the features we mentioned above and work well in China, according to GreatFire, a site that specializes in monitoring China's firewall.
Timeline of China's VPN Blocking Efforts
- January 2017: Chinese government rules the use of non-authorized VPNs illegal
- March 2017: Man from southern China, Deng Jiewei, sentence to 9 months in prison for selling VPN software
- July 2017: Apple removes VPN apps from the Apple Store in China at government’s request
- December 2017: Man from southern China, Wu Xiangyang, sentenced to 5 ½ years in prison and a $72,000 fine for selling VPN software
- March 2018: China begins ban on non-authorized VPN services
- July 2018: VyprVPN reports a 300% increase in VPN blocking by Chinese authorities
- October 2018: Man from Shanghai, identified by his surname Dai, is given a 3-year suspended sentence and fined $1,400 for selling VPN software
- June 2023: University student jailed for accessing information through VPN
- October 2023: Over 1m yuan seized from Chinese programmer over VPN use
If you want to see the steps taken even further back by the Chinese authorities, check out the China Ramps Up Internet Censorship infographic covering January 2015 to mid-2017.
Word of Warning!
We need to end on a note of warning.
We are not claiming any method here will achieve 100% success; no one can claim that and if they do, run the other way. The GFoC is a multi-headed monster... and an unpredictable one.
Methods that work today may not work tomorrow. Even more frustrating is that a method may work in one part of China but may not work in a different part of the country, owing to the GFoC’s inconsistent implementation.
How to Use a VPN in China: Final Thoughts
Whether you live in China, travel there for business, or will visit soon, you'll need a VPN if you want to enjoy many of the websites and online features that most of us take for granted.
We won’t lie: finding the right China-friendly VPN for your needs will take a little extra work.
Good luck! / 祝你好运！/ Zhù nǐ hǎo yùn!